James Whitcomb Riley Poems

Another hero of those youthful years
Returns, as Noey Bixler's name appears.
And Noey--if in any special way--
...

Only a dream!
Her head is bent
Over the keys of the instrument,
While her trembling fingers go astray
...

There was a curious quiet for a space
Directly following: and in the face
Of one rapt listener pulsed the flush and glow
...

When frost's all on our winder, an' the snow's
All out-o'-doors, our 'Old-Kriss'-milkman goes
A-drivin' round, ist purt'-nigh froze to death,
...

I

In the evening of our days,
When the first far stars above
...

Dear Lord, to Thee my knee is bent.--
Give me content--
Full-pleasured with what comes to me,
What e'er it be:
...

Ay, thou varlet! Laugh away!
All the world's a holiday!
Laugh away, and roar and shout
Till thy hoarse tongue lolleth out!
...

W'y, one time wuz a little-weenty dirl,
An' she wuz named Red Riding Hood, 'cause her--
Her _Ma_ she maked a little red cloak fer her
...

Ot's a leedle Gristmas story
Dot I told der leedle folks--
Und I vant you stop dot laughin'
...

Of all the doctors I could cite you to in this-'ere town
Doc Sifers is my favorite, jes' take him up and down!
...